Wheel



y 1933. c. J. BLAKESLEE 1,919,924

" WHEEL Filed Dec; 1, 1930 -Patentediluly 25; 1933; 7 it 1 CABLE gBLAnnsLn o r joijarrcngeoi inrlmois, asers- Non T 'QW LKER VEHICLE-'60,

,og' 'ql-ricAGq H INCHSiAQCCRIfOltA'ilON .01? rumors a This invention relates to Wheels and more.

. particularly to 1 driving wheels for trucks and the "like where arelativel'y' great-reducz tion in: speed and consequently increased torque 5 are desired. The herein disclosed wheel {is particularly Well adapted for elec- V tricalWehieles"but it lnay-alsogbe employed for vehicle's employingother form's o-f no* I tive p'ojwer. w a "Where a relativelyl large reductionnln W speed=betweenthe driving engine or electric motor andthe propelling wheels is desired it is I not desirable 1 embody thelentire rea i' duration 7 in the difierenti al becau se of. the i re a quirement for an unusually large ring} gear.

Thieiwould in turn require an: objectionably' large'; and heavy a-Xle', housings; I

' E There .has'been developed heretofore the so-Qa lled' Walker drive for emlwdying thegear reduction, or-ia lar'ge part'oi'the same, "in "the traction Wheels; ln thefornr e nployed by myassignee astubuaxle is inserted into the vend of'the axle housing. The axle housingcarries a driving'motor and/0r dif- 7 2 ferenti al with' spindles extending to 'each stub axle. The stub axleearriespreferahly order to obtainthe desired gear redilctio'ni The body of theg-Wheel -hasbeengforined of amp-pair of'o'ppose'd discs,- nounted centrally V on hearings on the stub-axle and peripherg ally bein clamped or riveted togethei'j A Where, as in 'tliefWalker Balinese drive; tii olidlers are vemployedgfthe pin on needs no bearing support a's supportie gained from the idle'rs which are i theinternal ring gear;

"According to my ln vention I provide a '45 compound 'gear reduction in the Wheel. I I

' am aware thatfcompoundreductions ghave" heretofore heen proposed and I do knot elaiin this featu're alone 1 However, IQhav'e pro vided certain marked improvements in structure-and modeiof operation-,fl'which' will fixedfirnesh with T r I .-',tioniprovides ;a;whee1- eo nprising af: airoftopp'osed dished dises'suitably anti fie; 't ional'lyjsupported upon a s'tulo axle;which"?! niore ap parent"froni the following idetailed: I

description of la particular eonstruetion em bodying myinventionji. V V V ,7 1 Some of he new and/or improved fem and results y y p ved.

compound gear reduction am as follows; F1rst,'by.-1ny construction-a greater re';; duction can-be ,secured'inthe same diameti rical dimensions v eaman diameter of the 'wheel may b a;

reduced =t'o adapt2'it t0 the useofhalloon 'Third, the internal ring: gear be en "closed. Without bolts or *rivets' therethrough =iFOlIjIth, the-pocket or annular space inv iwhichithe large gear of thecompound idler is-jdisposed and. in "which lubricant is con tained,* Inay trap any chips, dirt, or other non-lubricating, substances or impurities which may inadvertently-or accidentelly be? included Within the vWheel; Fifth, a better and more ea seal forgthe periphery: of the wheel is atta'inedy- .Sixtln'the outer peripheriesof the front .75 and obackfwheelo discs maybe formed to adapt: them to the desired wheel rim without interfering with the seal between-them; Seventh, a better bearing for the com pound gear isqprovide'd by the use of anti-"i 61 friction bearings; i I

5Eighth,-the hearings forth & are Provided wi 'convenient -take-upsi for wear toadjust the Sai-dCOmPOImd gems;

f uNintln -the brake drums may be connectedto'the inner Wheel vdiscsv radially-outside the internal ring gear; sothat the ribralcing stresses do not act upon the meansiholdingf the dise: or'discs' to the, ring gear.

aOtheP improvementsv will Pbe apparent I froni the: followingspecification and claims; 1 *JThe. preferred embodiment ofemyiinyem Between thefoilterfendsl offeachpain of arms sily obtained.

. issupportedia compound idler gear suitably nals.

comprises tapered roller bearings. The arms readily sustain theradial thrusts m each other by threaded nuts onthebearing pins to adjust the bearings or-takexupnany play that might develop: by wearf The bear-j ings fonthecompound idlers" are jdi'sposed at opposite ends ofthesaine andthus'a very substantial and stable bearing support. is

provided.

antitrictionally mounted upon pins ,or ]ourparted. thereto but "may be flexed toward Preferably ;the pinionsof the co'1i1poui1d' idler are disposed inwardly and are adapted; to meshwith an internal ring gear supported V pp p bore; in housing 11 is' adapted to aid the I clamping: action. of bolt 14andsimultaneous in the inner dished disc member at appoint between the main bearingsirpportingpor tion thereof and 'the po rtionof the flange thereof. The brake drurnand internal gear are'thus preferably connected to the-same disc. The'i'nnerdished disc is provided with a cylindrical annular flange wh ch 1s adapted to engage and seat upon 'a suitablejseat provided-on the inner sideof the flange of] the 7 Outer: dished disc' to form a tight j oint when the two discs are drawn together ini C assembled condition. 1 The cylindrical flange idlers, a suitable stop -member beifig pro vided: 2 adjacent ;the outer end of 5 the stubaxle to .prevent longitudinal displacement of thexmaii'i' pinion shaft axially .of vthe stub f axle, )l Vherebnly one-compound idler is V to be employedthe pinionmustthen be pr vided with supporting bearingsin the stub might'beniounted upon theoth'erdisc or be formed as a separate piece an'd inerelypiskg lot-ed centrally :of said discs, by suitable "annular shoulders on them as shown between flangei20, provided at its inner end with a 'radiallyextending flange 21, providing a suitable annular. seat 22 to receive 7 the outer the-outer disc and the cylindrical flange.

Thewheel and itsbea'rings and thelinternal drivestructure be suitably lubricated' by lubricant retaineddn -the wheel structure. I 1

-:The main pinion and'its shaft are, in the preferred form, free floating, being sup ported the my gears of the compound Other'iieatures' andladvantages oft the in l vention will appear fromthe following deg":

tail-ed description of, a preferredwembodi-f mentthereof illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing,in=which: V

Figure 1 is. a'cfragmentaryelevationfoiiia wheel illustrating diagrammatically the relative'ip'ositions of the ma-in pinion, theidler I gear pinions andlthe internal ring gearrvvith respect to thewheel structure,

--:F'gure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectibnfltaken along the line 2 -2 {of Figure. 1; and-.1

Figure "335 along li e;

of Fig.2. .c

p ,lnitheembodiinent oftheiinvention closed in the i drawing the wh eell and its Preferably the antifriction means;

I into the end of an axle housing 11, having the vouter endthereofslotted to form a split clamp 12,.havinga pair of clamping ears .associatedstructure are suitably supported upon a tubulannon-rotatable stub axle 10 having shank portion thereof extending 13 ;which' are drawn together by a bolt 14.

Along its uppersidethe stub axle 10 is provided with a key seat 10" accomm0dating a l ieyflflcooperatingwith akey-way 12 in the upper inner periphery of the'main axle side of axle'lO and a cooperating; transverse ly serves as; across key or'jpin to prevent longitudinaldisplacement-of axle-1O.) is The :wheel 1 itself 7 comprises 7 two opposed disheddiscs 15 and 16, the formerbeing the,

outer disc and the latter the inneri- The in- :nerg dise 16 is provided with a flat peripheral flangewportion 17 having extending thereforinfand outwardlytoward the outer disc,

lhfa cylindricalflange' 18 adjacent the outermost periphery thereof. @rj-Betwe'en the outeri most periphery and: the"- central portion thereof the disc j16 is provided with a convex or dished portion 19 which terminates at the central portion in a cylindrical bearing race 26 ofthe roller bearings 25; v On the outer periphery and'in opposed relation to the annular seati22, this b le 10 is provided with an enlarged portion: 23.

fiange27 formed adjacent the outer end of housing 11 is adaptedfuto fitinto the'outer end of the fiangei 201 f disc 16, the extreme outer-end of housing llfbeing provided with v a reduced portion 28" adaptedto act'asfanh inward: abutment forrcthevinner race 24 of roller'bearing25 and resting-against a shoul der at the end of the seat'j23. To prevent the; access oii dirt or other foreign matter to the bearing25 and to iretainany lubricant which finds-its waythrough' thev bearing 25.

to the outer side thereof, alcupped ring 29 is frictionally seated in the inner periphery of 'the flange20of the disc 16 and supports therein in contact with the reduced neck 28 a ,felt ,ring, not shown. ltj vvill be readily apparent thatthe reduced end 28 precludes V outward displacement ofthe inner race 24; iofbearing25 by providing in assembled po- "sition of "the axle lOwithin" the main axle housing l l%'}a fixed abutment, therefor.

thevjuncture'of the convex or dished eryof a brake 'drunrfit suitably secured-t the 'straight flange portion 17 as by means of rivets 35, the brake drum 3% suitablyac cornmodating an I internal expanding-brake 36 in any suitable or desired manner. The V ",frOm. round bar stock suitably drilled and -machined "to provide a centrally disposed axial bore 5 which-aceommodatesja shaft -orspindle55 suitably connected through a brake drum isattached to, the sar neidiscas that" to which the ring gear. is'connected but outside :the same; ThlSiS' advantageous inthatJif-the power andlthe brakeare si multaneously: active; it"f'will not":.;te nd "to. wrench "the wheeL;v Ill-J; radially opposed relation and adjacent the outer .end there--v of, the stub axle 10 is; provided with integral; parallel, outwardly extending .pl'ate-like' bearing bracket portions 36. These frame or bearing brackets arefl preferably formedas-an integral part of thejiforging of which the stub aXle is-coniposed jorjthey -may} be separatelyv formed and; joined to the stub axle portion as by fusion ;welds. i:'1lhes'e I plate-like portions-J36- afford great strength the stub axle-,lO-b'utlafiiord,onlylimited reagainst forces acting 'circumferentia'lly of sistancey to deflection axially of. thestub axle 10. Adjacent the; apex of eachbracket portion 36 there 'is-provided a suitable hole 37, the holesof each pair of opposed platelike'portions 36 beinginalignment toacopposed ipair of --plate-like members .36 I

' preventing ax1al;.d1splacement outwardly 16at the commodate ,a pinior journal member 38} provided at one enduthereof with 'a "polygonally' shaped head. 39 and having its' other end. split. and threaded to accommo date a castellated .nut 4@0, Whereby the may be. drawn toward each other for adjustment of the bearings journalvmember 38 supports a-pair oftapered rollerbearings 41 and 42,, the inner'races 43 and 44i of which have their outerfxsidcs iniengagerf ment with the inner faces of the bosses. formed .on'the endsof the bracket members 36;; The outer races-45 andv {lGofth'e bearings 5L1 and c 42 are maintained ,in definite spaced relationship means of. a bushing 47 vforced .into the inside of the compound gear a pressfit. Theouter races 45 46,

ofthe .bearings 4:1 42 engage Qthe inner periphery of the hub: portion &8 ofthe conipound idler gear 49 comprising agear part 50. and 'pinion part 51 preferably formed integrally in concentric"arrangement on hub portion 48; P nloirii'ljof gear .p1n1on49 meshes withan internal ring gearl52suit ably keyed or pinned .in a suitablefannular seat53 :tormedatfthe innerside of thedis'c" uncture of. a. the dished portion 19 and the straight flange: 171* IIt will be' readilyapparent that. sinceizthe plate-like bracket ine nbers'36 are somewhat resilient laterally, the bearingsgil V and 142 may be readily. taken up by, drawing up on I the nutAO, thereby-drawing the innertiracesi 43 and 44 of the bearings 41 and42 respecta ively toward each other, the. outer raeesf45; andt LGremaining in. positive =spacedirela l bly, or to take up any possible wear vided, .anda quiet drive assured. 7

The stub axlefilO is preferably formed differential with 1 the usual driving motor (not shown), atone end, the other end thereof being provided with a pinion 56 suitably .6 keyed tlllBtQ; Pinion 56 meshes with the teeth of the gear portions ofthejidler gear pinionsgfit) thereby transmitting pro pellmg' power from the motorto theflring.

jgear 52,.the latter in-turntransmitting-such power; to the discl6.- I The gear pinion cages are preferablyformed by, milling out upper and lo'wer openings in stub axle-l0 and thenf welding the'fplate-l'ikeportions to the stub; axle along thelongitudinally" opposed edges defining ;,the;openings in diametricale 1y opposed relations.

" The. out-er "end,. of the ;,stub i axle formed'g w'ith a' portion57 havinga bore 58, of larger internal dim'ension than the bore 54' and; is provided adjacent? itsfextrerneouter end with an a nnularj.groove 59 finto whichthe,yielding opposed fianges"60 of a substantially U-shaped retaining member 6l*-is ad'aptedto+be seated, the end 62 ort which is disposed in proximity toj'theelf,

treme outerwend of-the shaft55, thereby of said shaft 5 5. Theouter. periphery of "the enlarge'dportion 57' carries thereon-the inner race; 63 ot a tapere IT0116!" bfifi g- 6 L The outericrace; 65 ofthis hearing is seated in the inner periphery. of .thejhub portion 66 of the disc "15 f andflin abutment with'a radialflange 67: 3? i q The extreme outer end of the enlarged portion 57 of the, stub axle. 10 is, slightly 1 reduced andthreaded and along its upper: side-is provided with anaxially extending 'key slot'68. Aninnerrin'g 69 formed with a ,radially inwardlyextending lip '70 is slippedp.over the threaded end ofthe'enlarged. portion 57 of the stub axle- 10,-' with the lip {70 disposed in,the key slot 68,pandits inner face, isadapte'd to abut against; the outer factor the inner race 630i the roller bearing 64. Asuitable ring'nut is then.

threadedlover'ithe threaded end of'theene larged'portion 57 of the stub axle 10, thereby drawing up ontheinner .race63 of the bearingtii, A, ring72 similar in 'character to ring-69 is then slipped overfthe end of the enlarged portion57'of thefstub axle lO'and a bolt 73 is then threaded into 'a threaded recess 17 provided inthe'ring nut .71 and passes -,through recesses 75 and 76 -provided in" rings 72 and 69, respectively,uthereby suitably interlocking; the ring @nut 71' with the enlarged po'rtion 57 of the stub axle 10.; The outerend of-thehub portion 6610f -the'-disc isssuitably sealed by, ahub cap" 77' suitably secured to the end ofthe 66 as by means of bolts 78.

' The straight flange portion -7 9 of 'theldiso 151 is provided at its inner face with; an annular seat 801 and piloting shoulder to receive'the freeedgejof the laterally; e -y' tending: flange 18 of the disc 16.! The two discs are clamped togetherbylbolts '81 which may be provided with spacing (collars-to;

: limit. the bending stress upon the outer V 79joutsidetheiflange '18 so tl'iata 20 marginsof thefianges 17 -.and 79K The bolts SLeXtend through ther plates 17 and. r fiuid tight annular chamber is vprovided.

The'peripherai edgeofthe laterally inner or desired manner.

straight'flange' 17 of the disc 16 is; formed;

on a taper" to accommodate 121 i" similarly tapered internalfiangei88 of afliiiini85 which carries a pneumatic tire 86 in anyripreferable The run 85 also 1ncludes a second 'andf"oppositelydisposed i formed entire tapered internal flange 845- The i flanges 83 and 8% arespaoed a' distance apart at; that",

when the flange S3 7 is seated on the straight conventionalconstruction. .1

By referring to Figured; the relativeposi; tions of the driving pinion 56, the idler gear pinions 4:9:andinternalring gear are'jdiagrammatically shown and the ar rangement ofdeterminableQ 1 Inasmuoh'as'the inner, race 24 0f the bearing; 25 abuts the end oti'educedportioh 28,

theinner race otthe' bearing 64 means; that ring nut 71, sin'ce'the discs and 6 a e sfubstfintiauy nte al iti combination ofa tubular non-rotatable axle,

securement by means-of the bolts '81 and 182, thebea i s 2 a .@*b axle and comprising a pair of spaced radial- 1 up when requiredi it will beclear'thatupon drawingjupbn I havefound that in V p p drive wheel structure illustrated may he sat 1 isfactorily constructed to providea ratio of,

18.33 to '1, such provision ;bei'ng jreadily adaptable for the driving of electrically propolled vehicles. the class deriving energy these-parts will be from storage batteries in an efficient manner,' It will readily be seen thatwith the disposition of the internal ring-gear 52 concentrically inwardly of the largest internal annular periphery of the wheel, such grit, dirt,

outwardly'by centrifugal force will be 001- elected at'a'lportion of the Wheel other than at the ring "gear thereby materially increas ingthe etficien'cy' and life 01 the internal drive-arrangementand rendering its operation noiseless, By employing tapered roller bearings for antii'rictionally supporting the gear pinions and providing take-up thereof by -;virtue of the lateral yieldabilityrof plate? through the garlpihiohs and bearings upon thepms or-gournals by reason ofthepower like portions 86,adjustments for wear may,

be quickly and readily: accomplished inas- 'muoh: as substantial -strain is imposed" tov caked .greaseand gearmohips as are thrown transmission being effected to one side of Itr'vill be-xof course understood that the Wheel and driving gparts are first assembled upon the stub axlelththe latter then mounted infthe nain'axlehousing 11 and the bear- 'ings '25 and 64 thenftaken up.

,bodiment of my ini ention, I do not Wish thoseskilled in thejart that certain f parting from the essencef'of the invention or the spirit and scope of the" appended claims.

"ters'Patent is:

gear-cage connecteda'with said axle and respect to the axle, and being flexible longi tu'dinally of'the-axle for fiexion toward each ouma a journal member extending through -said spaced members, anti-friction means carriedbysaid journal member, and a gear associated Witlisaid'anti friction means, said radially I, disposed members being adapted the jplane of the gear-portions of the gear WVhile I have illustrated a'pr'eferred em- 7 changes maybe made therein without de @VVhat I.v claim and desir'e'to secure by Let-v combination of a tubular non-rotatable axle,

r comprising a pair of spaced radially dis- Hposed members hav ng sufiiclent rlgldity to V f sustain c rcumferentlal torque reaction with to be limited thereto.- It Will be understood i 1. In an internaldrive axle structure, the

to'exert axial pressure onsaid'anti-friction' means upon drawing up, movement impart ed tosaid journal memberto take up wear on said anti frictionmeans;

2. InQan internal drive axle structure, the

a, gear; cage nomr'otatably carried by said 1y disposedflmembers having. suflicient rigidity to sustaincircumferential torque reactiontwith respect tothe axle, and being flexible longitudinally ofthe axle for flexion toward eachotheiya ournal member extend .ing through saidspaced members, tapered 'rollers bearings carried by said journal mem- 7 ing 111p movement imparted to said journal,- member to take'up wear on said bearings [torque reaction with respect to said, axle and.

her, .a spacingmeans adapted to maintain the outer races-of said bearings in definite spacedrelationship, and a gear' having a hub carried by saidouter races, said radially. disposed members beingadapted to exert} axial pressure on said bearings upon draw 3. Q'In'combination, a tubular nonsrotatable axle, a wheel comprisinga pair of opposed dished members antiirictionally supported "upon said axle, a gear .cage substantially rig d wlth said axle and comprls ng a pair of spaced radially disposed'members having suflicient rigidity to sustain-circumferential being; flexible longitudinally of the axle for fiexion toward eachjother, a journal member extending through said spaced members, anti-friction means carried by said journal member, a gear-pinion supported by said antifriction means, said radiallyf disposed? members being adapted to exert axial press-' ure on said anti-friction means upon draw ling upmovement imparted to saidljournal member to take up. wearon said ant -fr ction means,- a. pinion meshing with the gear portion of said gear-pinion, and an internal ring gear carried :by' one Qfsaid dished members and meshing with the pinion portion of said gear pin on whereby-,tractive power may be imparted to-"said wheel from said live axle. f f 4. In combination, a tubular non-rotatable axle, a wheel comprising a'pair of opposed dished members anti-frictionally supported upon said .axle, a" gear cage substantially rigidwith said angle and comprisinga pair,

of spaced radially disposed members having suliicient rigidity to sustain circumferential torque reaction with respect to said axleand being flexible longitudinally of the axle for ifle'xion towardeach other, a'journal member extending through sald spaced members,

tapered roller bearings carried by said journal member, .a spacing means adapted to ma ntain the outer races ofsald bearings in definite spaced relationsh p, a gear-pmlon,

supported by said outerraces, said radially disposed, members being adapted to I exert axial-l pressure on the inner races of saidibearings upon drawingup movement imparted tosaid ournal member to take up wear on said bearing, a live axle insaid axle having a pinion meshing withithe'gear portion of said gear-pinion, and an internalring gear I carried by one of said dishedmembers and I meshing with the, pinion portion of said gear-pinion whereby tractivepower, may be imparted said? wheel from: said live axle.

-- 5. In combination, a tubular non-rotatable axle, 'a wheel comprisingqa pair of opposed dished membersantiiriotionally supported upon said axle, a gear-cage subs'tantially, rigid with saidaxle andcomprisinga pair of spa cedqradially 'disposedmemb'ers having fsuflicientrigldity to sustain circumt ferental torque reaction with respect to said axle and being flexible longitudinally of the axle for fiexion toward each other, .a journal member extending-through said spaced memibers, anti-friction ,means' carried by said 1 ournal member a earm on su orted b said anti-friction means, said radially disposedfmembersbeing adapted to exert axial pressure on said anti-friction means upon drawing upfmovementimparted to said journal member to take up .wear on said'antifrictioaineans, alive ax'l'e in said axlehaving a pinionmeshing-with the gear portion of said" gear-pinion,.;and an. internal ring gear carried by one of said dished members 'andnto one side of the largest internal'pe riphery of said wheel and meshing with the pinionportio'n' of said gear-pinion whereby trac-tive power may wheel from said live axle.

In combination, a-tubular non-rotatable axle, aywheel' comprising a pair of opposed be imparted to said dished members; anti frictionally supported upon said axle, a gear cage'substantially rigid Withsaid' axle and comprisinga pair of; spaced radially disposed members having sufficient rigidity to sustain circumferen tial'torque reaction withre spect to' said axle land being flexible longitudinallyof the axle for'flexion toward each other, a jo'urnal mem:

berextending through said spaced members,

tapered roller bearings carried by said jour-' I nal member, a, spacing, means adapted to;

maintain the outer races of said bearings in;

definite spaced relationship, a gear-pinion" supported said outer graces, said radially disposed members being adapted to exert axial pressure" on the inner races 0f said I bearings 'upon drawing up movement. imparted to '.SLld journal mem berto take up wear on said bearings, a live axle in said axle'having a pinion meshing with. the gear portion of said gear-pinion,

and an internal ring gear carried by oneof said dished members andto one side ofithe largest internal periphery of said wheel and meshing with the pinion portion ofsaid gear-pinion whereby tractive power may be imparted to said wheel from said live axle.

CABLE; J'. BLAKESLEE- 

